Colt or calf weaner.



No. 7I6,733. Patented Dec. 23, 8902. G. M. MILLER.

COLT 0B CALF WEANEB.'

{.Application led Apr. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.)

GEORGE M. MILLER, OF KIMBALL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

COLT OR CALF WEANER.

SPECFIGATION forming part of Letters, Patent No. 716,733, dated December 23, 1902.

Application inea April 1o, i902.

To all whom, t rim/y concern,.- v

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. Minnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kimball, in the county of .Brule and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Oolt or Oalf Weaner, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in colt and calf Weaners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of colt and calf Weaners and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one of great strength and durability adapted to be readily applied to a colt or calf and capable of eifectually preventing the same from sucking and adapted to permit a calf or colt to graze or feed Without inconvenience. y

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingV drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a colt and calf Weaner constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a colt. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a halter and the frame for supporting the calf and colt Weaner. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the calf and colt Weaner. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the construction for securing the device to a calf. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another means for attaching the device to the supporting-frame which is attached to a halter.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the figures of the d raW- ings.

1 designates an approximately rectangular supporting-frame having a rounded bottom 2 and provided with a straight transverse top portion 3, and the latter is provided with a longitudinal opening 4 for the attachment of the Weaner, as hereinafter explained. The supporting-frame is provided on its interior With an elliptical band 5, conforming to the configuration of and adapted toiiit the noseband 6 of a halter 7, and the supporting-frame is secured to the same on the exterior thereof by top, side, and bottom clips 7, of approximately U shape, provided at their ends with eyes 8, receiving keys 9.4 The split keys 9 serai Nt. 102,312. un monti are arranged on the exterior of the supporting-frame, and the clips pass around the inner face of the elliptical band and engage the nose-band of the halter, and by this construction the supporting-halter-engaging frame is detachably secured to the nose-band of the halter and is adapted to be readily applied to the same and may be quickly removed therefrom When desired.

The opening a, which may be formed in any suitable manner, can be advantageously formed by means of a separate strip or piece 10, grooved longitudinally at the center and provided with side anges 11 for engaging the inner face of the top cross-piece of the frame 1, and When the opening is constructed in this manner the top cross-piece is similarly grooved to provide an opening circular in cross-section. y

The calf and colt Weaner is composed of an inner or rear plate 12 and a front depressible plate 13, connected with the inner or rear plate by means of a pair of oppositely-dis-- posed approximately U-shaped springs 14, having coils at their bends and provided with arms or sides which are secured to the plates 12 and 13 by means of inner attachmentplates 15 and 16riveted or otherwise secured to the inner opposite faces of the plates 12 and 13 and grooved or bent at 17 and y18 to receive the sides vor arms of the springs; but the latter may be attached in any other suitable manner. The U shaped springs are adapted to be readily compressed by a comparatively slight pressure on the device; but the guide-tubes which receive the needles limit the inward movement of the outer plate and prevent the needles from being projected too far. 'These guide-tubes also prevent the outer plate from being moved inward sufficientlytoinjurethesprings. Theinnerplates 15 and 16 reinforce the plates 12 and 13 and greatly increase the strength of the same, and as' the said plates are constructed of vsheetsteel or other suitable material it will be clear that the device possesses great strength and durability. The outer or front plate 13 is smaller than the inner or rear plate 12, and the reinforcing-plates are preferably of the same size as the front or outer plate 13, and these plates are recessed or cut away at their upper edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The

IOO

front and rear plates are provided with oppositely-disposed pins or needles 19 and 20, and they have perforations 21 and 22 and guide sleeves or tubes 23 and 24, arranged at the openings and extending'from the inner faces of the plates 12 and'13 and located in the space between the plates for supporting the pointed ends of the pins or needles, which are normally housed within the guide tubes or sleeves and which are not projected until the outer or front plate is pressed inward. This will cause the pins or needles to project from both -the front and rear of the colt and calf weaner to prick the calf or colt and also the cow or mare should the calf or colt attempt to suck either animal. The perforations and guide tubes or sleeves of the rear plate 12 receive the pins or needles of the front plate and those of the front plate receive and guide the pins or needles of the rear plate. By this construction the pins or needles are effectively housed and are guided and supported and cannot become easily broken or bent. The rear plate hasv its upper edge rolled at one side of the recess 25 to form a sleeve 26 for the reception of a short thick rod 27 for engaging one side of the supporting-frame at the top thereof, and the lupper edge ofthe rear plate at the opposite side of the recess 25 is cut away-and rolled to provide a pair of sleeves or bearings 28 for a sliding spring-actuated pin or bolt 29, consisting of a Wire or rod bent between the sleeves or bearings 28 to form an arm 30, which serves as a handle for retracting the bolt and which is engaged by a coiled spring 31. The coiled spring 31 is disposed on the pin or bolt and is interposed between the arm 30 and the outer bearing28 and is adapted to hold the said pin or bolt 29 in the opening of the halter-engaging frame l.

When the device is to be applied to a calf, the fixed pin or rod is provided with a ring or loop 32, and the spring-actuated pin or bolt is provided with a similar loop or ring 33. These loops or rings are adapted to engage the nose of a calf, whereby the device is attached to the latter. Instead of employing a fixed rod 27 and a spring-actuated rod or bolt 29 a continuous rod or pin 34, as shown in Fig. 5, may be employed for attaching the device to the halter-engaging frame.

It will be seen that the colt and calf weaner is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is positive and reliable in operation, and that it is adapted to be readily applied to a colt or calf. Also it will be clear that while the device is capable of efectually weaning a calf or colt it willnot interfere with the feeding or grazing of the colt or calf and that it is not liable to become caught in a fence -or other obstruction.

What I claim is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a halter-engaging frame provided with an interiorly-arranged elliptical loop or band to receive the nose-band of a halter and having means for engaging the same, and a weaner pivotally connected to the frame thereof,substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a halter-engaging frame, having an interiorly-arranged loop or band to receive the nose band of a halter, approximately U- shaped clips adapted to engage the nose-band and the frame and provided at their ends with eyes, keys arranged within the eyes, and a weaner connected to the frame, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a halter-engaging frame provided with means for securing it to a halter and having a transverse opening, and a weaner provided at one side with a fixed pin to extend into one end of the opening and having a springactuated pin or bolt for engaging the other end of the opening,substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising an inner or rear plate, a front or outer plate spaced from the rear plate, springs connecting the plates, oppositely-disposed pins or needles mounted on the plates and arranged to project through them when the front plate is depressed, and tubes or sleeves mounted on the plates at the inner faces thereof and receiving and guiding the points of the pins or needles, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising fronty and rear plates, inner attachmentplates secured to the inner faces of the said plates and provided with grooves or bends, approximately U-shaped springs connecting the front and rear plates and having their sides arranged in the grooves or bends, reversely-arranged pins or needles mounted on loo the front and rear plates and arranged to extend through the same, and guide tubes or sleeves located between the front and rear plates and supporting and guiding the points of the pins or needles, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. MILLER.

/Vitnesses:

MAACK BRos, E. B. LUMBARD.

IIO 

